Adapter for connecting at least one accessory device to an operating table

ABSTRACT

An adapter ( 10 ) is described for connecting at least one accessory device ( 12 ) to an operating table ( 14 ), comprising a first fixing device for attaching a base body of the adapter ( 10 ) to the operating table ( 14 ) and a second fixing device for attaching the accessory device ( 12 ) to the adapter ( 10 ). The base body is formed from an X-ray transparent plate ( 16 ), said X-ray transparent plate ( 16 ) including a part lying on a support surface ( 15 ) of the operating table ( 14 ) and another part extending beyond the support surface ( 15 ) and forming a support surface extension for supporting a patient, when said X-ray transparent plate ( 16 ) is attached to the operating table ( 14 ).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Applicant hereby claims foreign priority benefits under U.S.C. §119 from German Patent Application No. 10 2009 047 869.8 filed on Sep. 30, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an adapter for connecting at least one accessory device to an operating table.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of endoprothetics, accessory devices, e.g. plug-in devices for hip surgery are used, which are connected to a conventional operating table. For this purpose the operating table must include interfaces specifically designed for the accessory device, which allow for connecting the accessory device.

As the number of joint operations has been increasing for years, there is also an increasing number of different operating table systems, which are used in the field of endoprothetics. Against this background the invention is based on the object of creating a possibility to combine the accessory devices more flexibly than previously with different operating tables.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention solves this problem by an adapter for connecting at least one accessory device to an operating table, comprising a first fixing device for attaching a base body of the adapter to the operating table and a second fixing device for attaching the accessory device to the adapter, wherein the base body is formed from an X-ray transparent plate, said X-ray transparent plate including a part lying on a support surface of the operating table and another part extending beyond the support surface and forming a support surface extension for supporting a patient, when said X-ray transparent plate is attached to the operating table.

The adapter according to the invention allows for connecting an accessory device to an operating table, which does not have interfaces specifically designed for the accessory device. Furthermore the adapter itself can be used as support surface extension.

As the plate of the adapter—as support surfaces of customary operating tables if required as well—consists of an X-ray transparent material, e.g. carbon fibre reinforced plastic, the patient can be supported on the plate and be treated by means of X-ray diagnostics in the region of the plate.

Due to the part of the X-ray transparent plate lying on the support surface of the operating table, it is provided for a stable arrangement of the adapter on the operating table. Thus the above-mentioned first fixing device serving to attach the base body of the adapter to the operating table can be realized with comparatively low effort. In particular it is thus possible to connect the adapter and thus the accessory device (e.g. by means of a slide rail) in a simple manner to different operating tables.

The part of the plate forming the support surface extension is preferably arranged in a free-standing manner. This means that all parts of the adapter, in particular the above-mentioned second fixing device for attaching the accessory device to the adapter are arranged such that the area surrounding the support surface extension is kept free from said parts, which could affect the treatment by means of X-ray diagnostics of the body part supported on the support surface extension.

Preferably the part of the plate forming the support surface extension extends in the longitudinal direction of the support surface of the operating table and has a length of at least one third of the total length of the plate. Typically the length is at least 400 mm. Thus it is guaranteed that the adapter provides a sufficiently large additional patient support surface, which can be used for supporting the patient according to requirements in different positions (in particular in pelvis free position).

In a preferred embodiment the plate can be pushed from one end of the support surface in the longitudinal direction onto the support surface until a first limit stop arranged at the adapter comes to bear against a second limit stop arranged at the operating table and said one part of the plate lies on the support surface. Preferably the part of the plate lying on the support surface has substantially the same width as the support surface. The above-mentioned part of the plate and the support surface of the operating table thus form an overlapping arrangement, the longitudinal sides of which are aligned with each other. Depending on the application, the plate can however also be smaller than the support surface of the operating table.

In a further advantageous embodiment the first fixing device comprises a rail arranged at the plate and a hold-down device, which can be fixed to the operating table, said hold-down device including a locking element insertable into the rail, which locking element can be locked in the rail. The rail is e.g. formed as elongated recess in the top surface of the plate or as separate component attached to the plate and preferably arranged at said end of the plate, which is pushed onto the support surface of the operating table. Thereby the recess and the locking element inserted therein are to be sized preferably such that the top surface of the locking element is formed flush with the top surface of the plate.

In a preferred embodiment the hold-down device can be moved along a guide, which is mounted laterally on the operating table at the longitudinal direction thereof. Said guide is e.g. formed as slide rail, on which the hold-down device can be moved when the plate is pushed onto the support surface.

Preferably the first fixing device serving to attach the base body of the adapter to the operating table comprises a handle screw having a contact surface, which can be screwed on the bottom surface of the operating table for securing the plate. Thereby the adapter is secured to the operating table from the bottom surface.

An X-ray transparent cushion can be attached to the top surface of the plate of the adapter. This cushion preferably has a multilayered structure, wherein an EPDM backing layer is superimposed by viscoelastic foam. Attaching the cushion is e.g. carried out by means of a velcro fastener in the form of loop and adhesive tapes, which are attached to the bottom surface of the cushion or on the top surface of the plate of the adapter.

Preferably the above-mentioned second fixing device, by means of which the accessory device is attached to the adapter, comprises a shaft receptacle, in which a plug-in shaft of the accessory device is pluggable.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the shaft receptacle is attached to a carriage, which can be moved along a guide shaft. Thereby it is possible to move the shaft receptacle together with the plug-in shaft of the accessory device inserted therein to adjust e.g. the accessory device to the proportions of the patient and then fix it on the guide shaft.

Preferably the adapter is designed for connecting a plug-in device for hip endoprothetics. However it is also possible to use the adapter for other accessory devices, which are to be attached to an operating table.

According to a further aspect of the invention a system is provided, comprising an operating table, at least one accessory device as well as an adapter of the above-mentioned type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be explained in the following on the basis of the Figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an adapter according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a further perspective view of the adapter;

FIG. 3 shows the adapter with mounted plug-in device;

FIG. 4 shows an illustration of how the plate is pushed onto the support surface of the operating table;

FIG. 5 shows an illustration of how the hold-down device is attached to the operating table;

FIG. 6 shows an illustration of how the plate is fixed on the operating table by means of the hold-down device;

FIG. 7 shows an illustration of how the plate fixed to the operating table is secured from below;

FIG. 8 shows an illustration of how the plate attached to the operating table is additionally secured from below;

FIG. 9 shows an illustration of how a cushion is attached to the plate;

FIG. 10 shows an illustration of how an accessory device is attached to the adapter;

FIG. 11 shows an illustration of how a carriage provided on the adapter is moved;

FIG. 12 shows an illustration of how a countertraction post is attached to the adapter; and

FIG. 13 shows an illustration of how an abutment is attached to the adapter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The embodiment described in the following is directed to an adapter, generally referred to with 10, serving to connect an accessory or plug-in device 12 for hip surgery to an operating table 14. The plug-in device 12 mounted on the adapter 10 is illustrated in FIG. 3. A part of the operating table 14 can e.g. be seen in FIG. 4.

On the basis of FIGS. 1 and 2 in the following first an overview of the elements forming the adapter 10 is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the base body of the adapter 10 is formed from a plate 16 consisting of a carbon fibre reinforced plastic. This plastic is X-ray transparent.

The adapter 10 further comprises two hold-down devices 20, 22 serving to fix the adapter 10 to the two longitudinal sides of the operating table 14. Of the two hold-down devices 20, 22, which are substantially identical in construction and function, in FIGS. 1 and 2 only the device referred to with 20 is shown in detail and described in the following.

The hold-down device 20 includes a straight guide rod 24 being arranged perpendicular to the plate 16 in the mounted condition and an L-shaped rod 26. In the mounted condition the short leg 28 is arranged perpendicular and the long leg 30 is arranged parallel to the plate 16.

The long leg 30 of the L-shaped rod 26 is inserted into a guide rail 34 in the mounted condition, which is attached to one end of the plate 16 in the lateral direction.

In order to arrest the long leg 30 of the L-shaped rod 26 in the guide rail 34, a locking device, generally referred to with 36, is provided. The locking device 36 comprises a lever screw 38, a receptacle 40 and a slide rail block 42 having a C-section. The slide rail block 42 can be attached to a slide rail 44, which is mounted on the longitudinal side of the operating table 14 (cf. FIG. 5). The short leg 28 of the L-shaped rod 26 is movably guided through the receptacle 40. The lever screw 36 is screwed into the receptacle 40 with its threaded shank, being not illustrated in detail. By turning the lever screw 38 the threaded shank can be brought into contact with the short leg 28 of the L-shaped rod 26. The short leg 28 can thus be locked in a desired height in the receptacle 40.

The hold-down device 20 further comprises a further straight rod 50, which is movably arranged at the guide rod 24. The rod 50 is arrestable by means of a locking device 52 on the guide rod 24. The locking device 52 is formed from a lever screw 54 and a receptacle 56. The lever screw 54 is screwed into the receptacle 56 with its threaded shank, being not illustrated in detail. By turning the lever screw 54 the threaded shank can be screwed into the receptacle 56 until the threaded shank 56 comes into contact with the guide rod 24, whereby the rod 50 is locked in the desired height on the guide rod 24.

As shown in FIG. 2, the adapter 10 further includes a handle screw 58 having a threaded shank 60, on the end, being the upper end in FIG. 2, of which a contact surface 62 is attached. The threaded shank 60 is screwed through a threaded bore, being not illustrated in detail, which is formed in a frame part 64 of the adapter 10. By turning the lever screw 58 the contact surface 62 can be brought into contact with the bottom surface of the support surface 15 to additionally secure the plate 16.

For attaching the plug-in device 12, shown in FIG. 3, the adapter 10 includes a shaft receptacle 66, in which a plug-in interface 68 (cf. FIG. 10) of the plug-in device 12 can be inserted. The plug-in interface 68 inserted into the shaft receptacle 66 is arrestable by means of a spring-loaded safety bolt 72. On the shaft receptacle 66 a tommy screw 70 is additionally provided serving to eliminate the play of the plug-in interface 68 inserted into the plug-in receptacle 66.

The shaft receptacle 66 is attached to a frame-shaped carriage 74. The carriage 74 is guided movably on a guide shaft 76 extending in the lateral direction in parallel to the plate 16, as can best be seen in FIG. 2.

The carriage 74 can be locked to the guide shaft 76 by means of a locking device 78. The locking device 78 comprises a lever screw 80, which is screwed into the carriage 74 with its threaded shank, being not illustrated in detail. If the lever screw 80 is turned until the threaded shank comes into contact with the guide shaft 76, the carriage 74 is locked on the guide shaft 76. By loosening the lever screw 80 the carriage 74 together with the shaft receptacle 66 and the plug-in interface 68 of the plug-in device 12 being seated in the shaft receptacle 66 can be moved along the guide shaft 76.

As shown in FIG. 1, an X-ray transparent cushion 82 is attached to the top surface of the plate 16. The cushion 82 includes a through hole 84, into which an end of the countertraction post 86 can be inserted. The countertraction post 86 is covered in a cushion 87 (cf. FIG. 12). On the plate 16 a post receptacle 85, not shown in the Figures, is provided for the countertraction post 86, which is oriented toward the hole 84 of the cushion 82 (cf. FIG. 9). Further an abutment receptacle 88 for attaching an abutment 90 (cf. FIG. 13) is formed on the plate 16.

In the following it will be shortly explained on the basis of FIGS. 4 to 13 how the plug-in device 12 is connected to the operating table 14 by means of the adapter 10.

As indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4, first the plate 16 is pushed onto a support surface 15 of the operating table 14. The support surface 15 is typically a hard paper plate, on which a cushion, not being shown, is later applied. In the mounted condition the plate 16 is thus arranged between the support surface 15 and said cushion.

In FIG. 4 the plate 16 is pushed onto the support surface 15 to the right to such an extent that a first limit stop arranged at the adapter 10 comes to bear against a second limit stop arranged at the operating table 14. In the present embodiment a frame part 95 forms the above-mentioned first limit stop, while the second limit stop is constituted by a front end face 93 of the operating table 14. To assure a precise positioning of the adapter 10 on the support surface 15, one or more marking lines can be provided on the plate 16, which are aligned with the edges of the support surface 15 in case of correct positioning.

As shown in FIG. 5, subsequently the hold-down device 20 is pushed onto or put in from the side to the slide rail 44 attached to the operating table 14. The short leg 28 of the L-shaped rod 26 is then inserted into the guide rail 34, as shown in FIG. 6. Subsequently, as indicated by the arrow in the enlarged partial view according to FIG. 6, the lever screw 38 is tightened manually, to arrest the short leg 28 of the L-shaped rod 26 in the guide rail 34. The same is done with the other hold-down device 22.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the rod 50 is then moved upwards along the guide rod 24 until it abuts from below against the operating table 14, e.g. against the shaft structure thereof. By tightening the lever screw 54 the rod 50 is locked on the operating table 40.

As shown in FIG. 8, subsequently the handle screw 58 is tightened to bring the contact surface 62 into contact with the bottom surface of the support surface 1. If the contact surface 62 abuts against the bottom surface of the plate 16, the adapter 10 is additionally secured to the operating table 14.

Subsequently the cushion 82 is laid on the plate 16 and is fixed thereon by means of loop tapes and adhesive tapes, not being shown, which are arranged at the bottom surface of the cushion 82 or the upper surface of the plate 16, as shown in FIG. 9.

After the adapter 10 has now been completely mounted to the operating table 14, the plug-in device 12 can be connected to the adapter 10. This is shown in FIG. 10. For this, the plug-in interface 68 of the plug-in device 12 is inserted into the shaft receptacle 66 of the adapter 10. If the plug-in interface 68 is secured by means of the spring-loaded safety bolt 72 in the shaft receptacle 68, the lever screw 70 is tightened to eliminate the play.

In FIG. 11 it is shown how the carriage 74, on which the shaft receptacle 66 is attached, can be moved along the guide shaft 76 to position the plug-in device 12 correctly on the operating table 14. For this, first the lever screw 80 has to be loosened, whereby the carriage 74 is freely movable on the guide shaft 76. If the carriage 74 is brought into the desired position on the guide shaft 76, the lever screw 80 is tightened again, to arrest the carriage 74 on the guide shaft 76.

If the cushion 82 is attached to the plate 16, the countertraction post 86 can, as shown in FIG. 12, be inserted into the hole 84 formed in the cushion 82 and be fixed in the abutment receptacle 85 (cf. FIG. 9), which is formed in the plate 16.

FIG. 13 finally shows, how the abutment 90 is plugged in the abutment receptacle 88 positioned on the bottom surface of the plate 16.

For the sake of completeness, in FIG. 3 the plug-in device 12 being used for hip surgery, as mentioned above, is shown together with the adapter 10, on which it is mounted. The plug-in device 12, known per se, comprises a plug-in shaft 91 with the plug-in interface 68, a shaft carriage 92, a support foot 94, a spindle traction mechanism 96, a rotary tilting device 98 as well as an extension shoe 100. A slide rail bolt 102 for attaching further accessories, e.g. femur hooks, leg holders etc. is provided on the plug-in shaft 91.

As becomes also apparent from FIG. 3 said part of the plate 16, to which the cushion 82 is attached and which does not lie on the support surface 15 of the operating table 14, forms a fully functional support surface extension of the operating table 14 in the longitudinal direction thereof. However, the invention is not limited to such an embodiment. Thus, the adapter 10 can also be formed such that it forms exclusively or additionally a support surface extension of the operating table 14 in the lateral direction.

In the present embodiment two plug-in devices of the described type can be connected on both sides of the adapter 10 and thus on both sides of the operating table 14. However, the invention is neither limited to the number of mountable plug-in devices nor to the type thereof. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An adapter for connecting at least one accessory device to at least one operating table, comprising: a first fixing device for attaching a base body of the adapter to an operating table and a second fixing device for attaching an accessory device for supporting a patient's leg to the adapter, wherein the base body is formed from an X-ray transparent plate, said X-ray transparent plate including a part lying on a support surface of the operating table and another part extending beyond the support surface in a longitudinal direction of the support surface and forming a support surface extension for supporting a patient, when said X-ray transparent plate is attached to the operating table.
 2. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the plate consists of carbon fiber reinforced plastic.
 3. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the part of the plate forming the support surface extension is arranged in a free-standing manner.
 4. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the plate can be pushed from one end of the support surface in the longitudinal direction onto the support surface until a first limit stop arranged at the adapter comes to bear against a second limit stop arranged at the operating table and said one part of the plate lays on the support surface.
 5. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the first fixing device comprises a rail adjacent to the plate and at least one hold-down device, which can be fixed to the operating table, said hold-down device including a lock.
 6. The adapter according to claim 5, wherein the hold-down device can be moved along a guide, said guide being mounted laterally on the operating table in the longitudinal direction thereof.
 7. The adapter according to claim 6, wherein the hold-down device comprises a guide rod, which can be attached laterally to the operating table, perpendicular to the support surface and an L-shaped rod, the one leg thereof forming the first locking element and the other leg thereof being movably guided through a receptacle attached to the guide rod and being arrestable in the receptacle by means of a lever screw.
 8. The adapter according to claim 4, wherein the first fixing device comprises a handle screw having a contact surface, which can be screwed on the bottom surface of the operating table for securing the plate.
 9. The adapter according to claim 1, further comprising an X-ray transparent cushion attachable to the plate.
 10. The adapter according to claim 9, further comprising a velcro fastener for attaching the cushion to the plate.
 11. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the second fixing device comprises a shaft receptacle, in which a plug-in interface of the accessory device can be plugged.
 12. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein a post receptacle for receiving a countertraction post is formed on the part of the plate forming the support surface extension.
 13. A system, comprising an operating table, at least one accessory device and an adapter according to claim 1 for connecting the accessory device to the operating table.
 14. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the part of the plate forming the support surface extension has a length of at least one third of the total length of the plate.
 15. An adapter for connecting at least one accessory device to at least one operating table, comprising: a first fixing means for attaching a base body of the adapter to an operating table and a second fixing means for attaching an accessory device for supporting the patient's leg to the adapter, and wherein the base body is formed from an X-ray transparent plate, said X-ray transparent plate including a part lying on a support surface of the operating table and another part extending beyond the support surface in a longitudinal direction of the support surface and forming a support surface extension for supporting a patient.
 16. An extension system attachable to at least one operating table having a patient support surface and slide rails extending along sides thereof, wherein the extension system comprises: an accessory device capable of supporting a portion of a patient's leg, the accessory device comprising a shaft; and an adapter removably attachable to the accessory device and removably attachable to an operating table so as to be capable of connecting the accessory device to the operating table, wherein the adapter comprises an X-ray transparent plate, when the X-ray transparent plate is attached to the operating table in a cantilevered manner a first X-ray transparent portion is positioned on the support surface of the operating table and a second X-ray transparent portion extends out beyond the support surface of the operating table forming a support surface extension for supporting a patient.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the adapter further comprises a first connector for attaching a first portion of the adapter to the operating table and a second connector for attaching a second portion of the adapter to the accessory device.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the second connector is located beneath the X-ray transparent plate and the accessory device extends distally relative to an end of the operating table when the adapter is attached to the operating table and the accessory device.
 19. The system of claim 17, wherein the first connector comprises: a first slide rail coupler attachable to one of the slide rails of the operating table; and a lock for securing the adapter relative to the operating table.
 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the first connector further comprises a second slide rail coupler slidably attachable to one of the slide rails of the operating table, wherein the first and second slide rail couplers are positioned on opposite sides of the X-ray transparent plate.
 21. The system of claim 17, wherein the second connector comprises a receptacle for receiving a portion of the accessory device, the receptacle defining a cavity into which the portion of the accessory device is received.
 22. The system of claim 16, wherein accessory device further comprises a shoe for receiving a patient's foot.
 23. The system of claim 16, further comprising a countertraction post connectable to and positioned substantially orthogonal to the support surface extension.
 24. The system of claim 16, further comprising an X-ray transparent cushion detachably positioned on the support surface extension.
 25. An operating table adapter system comprising: an adapter, wherein the adaptor comprises: a first connector comprising a first receptacle for receiving a slide rail of an operating table, the first connector capable of attaching a first portion of the adapter to the operating table; a second connector comprising a second receptacle for receiving a shaft of an accessory device that supports a patient's leg, the second connector capable of attaching a second portion of the adapter to the accessory device; and an X-ray transparent plate, when the X-ray transparent plate is attached to the operating table in a cantilevered manner, a part of the X-ray transparent plate is disposed on a support surface of the operating table and another part extends beyond the support surface forming a support surface extension for supporting a patient.
 26. The system according to claim 25, wherein the receptacle has a C-shaped cross section and wherein the first connector further comprises a lock for securing the adapter relative to the operating table.
 27. The system according to claim 25, further comprising: the operating table, wherein the operating table comprises two slide rails on opposing sides of the operating table and wherein the first connector comprises two of said first receptacles for receiving the two slide rails of the operating table; and the accessory device, wherein the accessory device further comprises a shoe for receiving a patient's foot.
 28. The system to claim 25, further comprising a countertraction post attachable to the X-ray transparent plate for positioning a patient for hip surgery, when attached to the X-ray transparent plate the countertraction post is oriented substantially perpendicular to the X-ray transparent plate to engage a pelvic region of the patient. 